UA Social Work Announces Hall of Fame Inductees

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.  — The State of Alabama Social Work Hall of Fame will induct five individuals during a ceremony and luncheon Friday at the Indian Hills Country Club in Tuscaloosa.

The guest speaker for the event will be former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, Sue Bell Cobb.

Founded in 1997 by the Social Work Society of The University of Alabama School of Social Work, the State of Alabama Social Work Hall of Fame honors the accomplishments of some of the state’s most distinguished leaders in the field of social work.

Inductees into the Hall of Fame are acclaimed by their peers and colleagues for their professional status and exemplary leadership. They are also recognized for their creativity and contributions to the knowledge base and practice of social work. All inductees have influenced communities throughout the state.

Those to be inducted into the 2013 class are: Knox “Gil” Jennings, Margaret Beasley Pierson, Lois Robison, Dr. Jack Sellers and Dr. Sharon Shelton.

Knox “Gil” Jennings, whose social work career spanned more than 30 years, served the Alabama Department of Human Resources in many capacities and was deputy commissioner for 13 years. He was heavily involved in creating the Department of Youth Services and served as an elected member of the Alabama State Personnel Board.

Jennings also served as executive director of the Alabama Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and as executive director of the Alabama Mental Health Association. Jennings received his Master of Social Work from Florida State University.

 

Margaret Beasley Pierson was employed as a caseworker at the Jefferson County Department of

Pensions and Security. She served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  After earning her Master of Social Work from Simmons College, she returned to Alabama and was employed by the State Crippled Children’s Service. She worked with the local YMCA to develop the first summer camp for children with handicaps at Camp Cosby. She served as an Alabama delegate to the 1960 White House Conference on Children and Youth. When the School of Social Work at The University of Alabama was established, Pierson participated in the search for the first dean.

 

Lois Robison had the distinction of being a member of the first (1969) graduating class of

The University of Alabama’s Master of Social Work program. She was a social worker at the Pickens County Department of Human Resources for more than 30 years. She also focused her skills on community services for the Geer Center in her hometown, Carrollton. After years of hard work, her efforts culminated in the building of a new facility in 1992, which was named the Robison Geer Center in honor of her and Herbert Geer. The Robison Geer Center continues providing mental health outpatient services as part of the Indian Rivers Community Mental Health Center.

 

Dr. Jack Sellers established the department of social work at the University of North Alabama in

1974, and he remained director of the program until his retirement in 2007. A doctoral graduate of The University of Alabama School of Social Work, Sellers developed a strong, national reputation for his work as a social work educator and leader. At the national level, Sellers was active in accreditation activities of the Council on Social Work Education and received the Significant Lifetime Achievement award from the Baccalaureate Program Directors organization in 2007. His achievements in administration, education and practice include helping to establish a group home for girls in his community with a grant from the Alabama Department of Youth Services.

 

Dr. Sharon Shelton earned her Master of Social Work and doctorate in Educational Psychology/Research from The

University of Alabama. She was a faculty member at The University of Alabama School of Social Work for 19 years, and she also served as assistant dean. Following her retirement from social work education, she became director of the DCH Employee Assistance Program, where she served for 12 years. Additionally, Shelton served as president of the Alabama State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and vice-chair of the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners. She has continued to remain active in a wide variety of community service projects.

For more information regarding the Hall of Fame, contact Julie Holden at jcholden@sw.ua.edu or 205/348-5384.